Discus and what substrate

[darrensc]

I would like to get discus eventually. I have yet to find a stand for my 125 gallon tanks and i'm wondering what would be the best substrate. I would like to add a few other fish but make it a species tank like most discus people have. I want there to be so much plants as well.

I like the look of sand and I think it would be best for plants.

One of the LSF's here says the silica sand is not good at all becuase it raises or lowers the PH (I forget which one).

Whats your call?

 

[Vip]

Sand with plants is fine.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I have sand and plants no problem with my 2.

 

[elgecko]

Welcome to the forums.
I have just set up a new tank to move my breeding discus into and there will be no substrate in the tank. I had 2 rocks with java fern in the process of attaching itself to, when I noticed that the rock was affecting my water be dissolving in the tank. So out came the rocks.
I have drilled some holes into a terra cotta saucers and placed it upside down, with the java fern tied to them now.

 

[bugsy66]

Personally I prefer a fine gravel. I love the look of sand but have seen so many people have problems with it. It is a personal preferene on which to have I think. Alot of Discus keepers prefer a bare tank. If that is the case and this is what you want to do, you can have pieces of driftwood in there and java fern too. Just gently set the driftwood ontop of the roots of the java fern and in no time it will attach itself to the driftwood. i have a huge chunk do this and the other day I just bought some new plants to add, Amazon Sword and Fountain Plant. Because I don't like a really deep gravel bed I had to pull my java fern off the driftwood and use that to keep my amazon plants anchored. The java fern is heavy enough that it will just stay on the bottom once the plats are big and established.

good luck ....bugsy